"Are you limited by your Challenges" or "are you challenging your limits"

I Live with a Neuromuscular / Spinal Condition and plan to 'Challenging My Limits' 2017 my goal was the Lake Zurich 26km Marathon Swim.

Where do I go from here? #destinationunknown

Great North Run

by DragonRunnerSep 13th 2016

So the weekend has arrived, it's time for my heart to dictate what I am going to do. Even with my right hip still not right after the fall in Kalmar, this years Great North Run will be the 10th time to take part in the worlds largest half marathon. So a Friday night pack.
Over the last year since living with Black Dog which I have been calling Kuro early mornings are rare, but as I am travelling North by train there were time tables that need to be kept to.

Thankful the rain that was falling last evening whilst I was packing had stopped so at least the mile long walk to the first stage of my travel I was going to be dry. Listening to the morning birdsong as night became day was a relaxing way to start the day.

A fairly long day travelling so took the change to catch up on some reading and some music not listened to in a while - Newcastle was busy even in late afternoon. Even with a city the size of Newcastle everyone seemed to be talking about the Great Run.

So the morning ritual begun at what for most is their Sunday Layin. My evening was what I have become to expect on the eve of a run, restless up way before my alarm time.

Looked out the window and the sun gods are with us. So 8am (late compared to some events) it was a short walk across to the Metro and the quest have already begun for the trip into the centre of Newcastle. A few stops later on the Metro is so jammed pack. From now I just have to follow the crowd, this I would not have been able to do a few months so Kuro please behave.

Not sure if it's a short or long walk to the start but my watch said I need 2 hours recovery. So the walk along Claremount Road, to the baggage drop and on to the start pens.

Once again for one one who does not display many emotions the playing of 'Abide By Me' brought out emotions you don't normal see from me.

Out of all the years I have taken part in the event - the introduction of Mo must have been heard from South Shields.

So the gun goes off, and I think I must have set a new pb - that is for the 40 minutes it took me to get to be start line. The joys of been in the last starting pen. Even before I had got to the first landmark on the course, the Red Arrows had flown over the Tyne Bridge.

The first 10k was good, the pain killers were working and managed to keep a constant snails pace. Which I managed to keep up to around 7 miles before starting feel the discomfort at the to porky hip. This was to be expected and there was no way that the finish line at South Shields was not going to be crossed.

The last mile and a bit along the coast road as you come down the drop in road was emotional to say, the words / shouts of encouragements added to my determination. It has to be one of the longest but will supported last mile.

In what has been my speed for the other two half marathons this year I was a little out side my finishing time that I had hope for. Even thou this was my tenth Great North Run it was one of the slowest. I am not concern as the events of the last few weeks just finishing is achievement alone.

As this was the last planned event of 2016 I can now plan a proper recovery and look at what I am doing to set as my goal.